MUSCAT, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said Monday that efforts are being made to secure safe passage arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising regional tensions.
In a post on social media platform X, Al Busaidi said Oman is working intensively to ensure the continuity of maritime navigation in the strategic waterway.
"Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making," he said, warning that the conflict is already causing widespread economic disruptions.
"I fear they promise to get much worse if the war continues," he added.
Al Busaidi's remarks came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran and its regional allies responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East.
The conflict escalated sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday gave Tehran 48 hours to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that otherwise Washington could strike Iranian power infrastructure. Tehran responded by signaling it would retaliate across the region if such attacks went ahead.
Earlier on Monday, Trump said he had ordered the military to delay strikes on Iranian power plants and energy facilities for five days after what he called "productive" talks with Iran. He also suggested the Strait of Hormuz could be "jointly controlled" by the United States and Iran.
Iran later denied having negotiations with the United States, adding that Tehran's stance on the Strait of Hormuz as well as its conditions to end the war have not changed. ■
